Oompa Loompa
noun/ˈuːmpə ˈluːmpə/
Etymology Coined by British author Roald Dahl. Apparently a fanciful formation in line with whimsical English words like fuzzy-wuzzy, Humpty Dumpty, etc. Perhaps reminiscent of "exotic" ethnonyms to Westerners; Roald Dahl spent time in Tanganyika, East Africa. Also compare oom-pah (genre of German folk music); the Oompa Loompas dance to quirky, rhythmic songs.
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Fiction, Literature, Media, Publishing Any of the fictional pygmies who manufacture candy in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
- Dr. Evil: Is he giving off too much of a creepy Umpa Lumpa vibe? / What’s wrong, Mini-Me?1999 June, Mike Myers, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, New Line Cinema
- Nobody, not even an Umpa Lumpa, had warned me what would happen to a blind guy who refuses to close his eyes.2006, Ryan Knighton, Cockeyed, A Memoir, page 152:
4 more examples
- It could be worse, but I've learned to become invisible to Machiavellian dilettantes, faux radical Satanistas, and bloodsucking Oompa-Loompas of the painfully ordinary variety.2006, Adrian C. Louis, Logorrhea, Northwestern University Press,, →ISBN, page 44:
- [Referring to the male member] It's not one of the Muppets or an Umpa Lumpa.2006, Sherry Argov, Why Men Marry Bitches: A Woman's Guide to Winning Her Man's Heart, page 89:
- Don’t be afraid to write your name in the books and on the pans that were yours before you found yourself sharing a studio apartment that would normally not be big enough for an Oompa-Loompa.2006, Anna Jane Grossman, Flint Wainess, It’s Not Me, It’s You: The Ultimate Breakup Book, page 129:
- Nevertheless, some subtle market forces are at work which pressure the canny shopkeeper into giving up valuable shelf space to the contents of an Oompa Loompa’s cocktail cabinet.2006, Simon Trewin and Michael Moran, The Encyclopaedia of Guilty Pleasures, John Murray, page unknown
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A person appearing orange from fake tanning, resembling the appearance of Oompa Loompas in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
- Not only does he have an Oompa Loompa for a mother, but if Star magazine is to be believed, that Oompa Loompa will soon be raising him on her own. […] This is great for MTV as its line-up of reality TV shows about young, foolish women with bad tans raising babies solo was looking kinds slim lately.2012 November 1, Metro Boston:
- ‘Oi! Oompa Loompa!’ some bloke yelled at me. Whatevs! Like I hadn’t heard that one before! My orange tan, huge hair extensions and bright clothes, made me a target.2015, Chat:
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A dwarf, little person, short person.